The Jambalaya News - 12/17/15, Vol. 7, No. 17

2 December 17, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 • Volume 7 • Issue 17

715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262

On cover: Doug Gehrig, Owner and Operator of McDonald’s of SWLA and Gerard Mack, Director of Operations

www.thejambalayanews.com

COVER STORY 16 McDonald’s of SWLA: Community Support Served Daily

Publisher/Executive Editor Lauren Abate

REGULARS 5 We Are SWLA!

lauren@thejambalayanews.com

Contributors Nicole Shuff Arabie George Cline Dan Ellender Braylin Jenkins Brian Johnson Mike McHugh Jason Machulski Roger Miller Justin Morris Russell Pawlowski Terri Schlichenmeyer Sales sales@thejambalayanews.com

8

The Dang Yankee

8

Adoption Corner

9

Tips From Tip

6 10

10 Huntin’ Tales 12 Tales of the Bayou Pickers 14 Soul Matters 15 The Pirate’s Platter FEATURES 6 Save the Elephants: Charity Team Conquers Kilimanjaro

Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk

THE SPICE OF SWLA 18 LC Symphony’s Champagne Bingo!

Business Office Manager Jeanie Rourk

20 Event Guide 24 Family Fun Night at the Movies 25 Bookworm Sez… 26 Nightlife Guide

15 16 24

38 Lake City Beat!

Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff.

The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by Jambalaya Media, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601.

Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Copyright 2014 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

Vol. 7 • No. 17

30 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles 33 Funbolaya 34 Society Spice

25 December 17, 2015 3

I looked at my last Pub Note of 2014 and the theme was peace: for me, for you, for the world. I got some peace in 2015, but not nearly as much as I needed. How about you? And I can’t even begin to discuss the mess the world is in. We will never have world peace. That’s simply not to be.

Personal peace is elusive.

Most of us have some peaceful moments, but a peaceful life in general? I wonder about that.

I think back to my growingup years and my life on Barnes Ave. Was it peaceful? Well, to begin with, that’s really not the right word to describe an Italian household. And when you have a neurotic aunt running the show, any peace that you might possibly think you have just goes out

4 December 17, 2015

Find Your Peace

the window. It wasn’t there.

East Boston is not a quiet place. Trains, planes, and buses made constant noise throughout the day. It slowed down at night, but by 5 a.m. it started up again.

Such is life in the city. We had a small backyard with trees and grass—but it faced the MBTA parking lot and the screech of the trains on the tracks beyond the lot. And there were neighbors on each side yelling loudly to one another because Italians basically yelled; we didn’t talk normally. So if you wanted to go down to the yard to simply relax, you were out of luck. Plus, Aunt Jeannette was probably spying on you from her back window to See What You Were Up To. It would only be a matter of time

before she’d come out on her back porch and say something that would ruin your day.

So in the hot summer, I’d sit on a lawn chair on my porch on the third floor to work on my tan, away from Jeannette’s prying eyes. I could hear the roar of the traffic going over the bridge to and from Winthrop into Boston, and of course, the ubiquitous planes droned overhead, some louder than others depending on what runways were used. Radios would be blaring from the open windows of the houses up and down the street.

I would close my eyes and try to shut the world out, but it was next to impossible.

So I learned at a young age that I had to find my peace since it wasn’t readily there. As an only child, I just wanted to be Left Alone with the comfort of books. I read the classics at a young age, so when were assigned them in school, I’d already read most of them.

That was my peace. Daddy’s was his art. He had a studio in the den where he did his oil paintings, watercolors, and charcoal sketches. When I was little, I had my very own easel and paints and pastels and I would create art next to him. I think those were my happiest times with him. He also collected stamps, which I found dread-

fully boring, even though some of the stamps were fascinating.

My mother’s peace was cooking, trying out new dishes, buying new recipe books (I have all of them) and later on, jotting down recipes from her shows on the Food Network.

Cooking made her happy. So did entertaining and dinner parties and being with her family and friends. It brought her much satisfaction, and I can still see the look on her face as she watched her loved ones gathered around her table enjoying a meal that she prepared.

So as this year closes, I hope you all find your special peace that makes your lives complete.

It’s usually something simple, but it can make all the difference in the world.

We are taking a little time off for a much-needed rest.

Our next issue comes out January 14. May you have a joyous holiday season, and the very best wishes for safe and prosperous New Year!

Lauren Abate

Vol. 7 • No. 17

and Acadiana markets. “JD Bank is humbled by the meaningful, hard work of so many community groups,” says Boyd Boudreaux, bank president and CEO. “In most cases, these organizations rely on charitable giving and sponsorship support. We encourage everyone to support local nonprofits as a way of reaching those around us who need help.”

McDonald’s of SWLA Supports Children’s Museum

Manley Jordan, MD Named CMO at Memorial

Manley Jordan, MD

Lake Charles Memorial Health System welcomes Manley Jordan, MD in his new role as VP of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) beginning January 1, 2016. Dr. Jordan, board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, has been a practicing Pulmonary physician since 1989 and joined Pulmonology Associates of Southwest Louisiana, a part of the Memorial Medical Group, in 2004. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine.

McDonald’s of SWLA recently made a $1,000 donation to the Children’s Museum of Lake Charles. The donation was part of the McCafe® Coffee for a Cause program, which dedicates coffee sales from Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s locations to local nonprofits. The donation will assist the L to R: Children’s Museum assistant director Allyson MontChildren’s Museum in providing gomery, hands-on and Doug creaMcDonald’s of exhibits SWLA owner/operator Gehrig Children’s Museum Dan Ellender tive, stimulating programs for area andchildren andexecutive theirdirector families.

For more information about McDonald’s of SWLA, call (337) 4363368 or visit www.mcdswla.com. For more information about the Children’s Museum, call (337) 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org.

Fuller Named WCCH Employee of the Month

Kinder High School 4-H Donates to CASA The Kinder High School 4-H Chapter warmed the hearts of foster children through a coat drive held at Kinder High School. Thanks to their efforts, Kaden Guillory, a senior at Kinder High School and president of the Kinder High School 4-H Chapter as well as the Louisiana State 4-H chapter delivered nearly 100 coats to Family & Youth’s CASA Program recently. The coats of all sizes will be an appreciated gift to children in Southwest Louisiana currently in the foster care system. The CASA volunteer helps to ensure that the child receives appropriate care, whether from a foster home or relatives home while he or she is in the court system. Volunteers are trained and supported by CASA staff at Family & Youth. If you are interested in becoming a voice for children in the court system, contact Courtney Fuller at (337) 436-9533 or courtney@fyca.org.

SOWELA’s Customer Service Star Award Recipient

SOWELA Chancellor Neil Aspenwall and Allison Dering

Allison Dering, the Associate Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at SOWELA Technical Community College, has received the Customer Service Star Award for the fall 2015 semester. Award winners are selected from nominations submitted to and reviewed by SOWELA’s Customer Service Committee. Registration for the spring semester at SOWELA is now open with classes beginning on Monday, January 11, 2016. To complete a scholarship application, visit https://www.sowela.edu/scholarships.

JD Bank Contributed to 85 Area Organizations in 2015 JD Bank made charitable donations throughout 2015 through a variety of direct giving and sponsorship opportunities, touching 85 community organizations in the bank’s Southwest Louisiana Vol. 7 • No. 17

Bessie Fuller

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital named Bessie Fuller as its Employee of the Month for November. As the coding supervisor in the hospital’s health information management department, Fuller oversees the five medical coders in her department, performs medical coding audits to ensure coding accuracy and also provides education and training to the medical coders of the department and outlying clinics. Fuller has been with the organization for over four years.

McNeese Confers Honerary Degree McNeese State University conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Michael R. Fuljenz, a successful businessman, civic leader and supporter of McNeese, during the 145th commencement ceremony. Fuljenz’s financial support in response to various recognized needs now McNeese President Dr. Philip C. Williams, right, places him among the top 10 allpresents Michael R. Fuljenz with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. McNeese Photo time donors at McNeese. He was inducted into the McNeese Athletic Hall of Honor in 2009.

Suddenlink Donates to Alliance Suddenlink donated a check in the amount of $15,000 to the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance to help develop our regional economy and meet the needs of our business community. This donation is the most recent investment to the SWLA Alliance Foundation’s SWLA on the Move economic development campaign.

December 17, 2015 5

S A V E

Charity Team

T H E

E L E P H A N T S

Kilimanjaro

Conquers

By Brian Johnson

We did it.

In our quest to raise funds for “Save the Elephants,” a Kenya-based elephant research and conservation organization, our charity fundraising team successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, on October 23.

The idea to climb Kilimanjaro began when my wife and I visited Save the Elephants research center in 2014 and saw firsthand their innovative work to protect elephants and mitigate human-elephant conflict.

We consider ourselves conservationists, travel to East Africa frequently and volunteer our time and money for wildlife and animal welfare causes. Our social media pages are testaments to our love for East Africa, its people and its wildlife.

But we wanted to do more and climbing Kilimanjaro seemed a great way to tell the elephant’s story and raise funds for an organization working every day to ensure these magnificent animals will be around for generations to come.

We spent months planning the expedition, developing outreach strategies and telling our story to the media while I physically prepared for the climb. Behind the scenes, my wife worked tirelessly to promote the climb, arranging interviews and updating our social media sites. It was a bit difficult to coordinate while she was in Lake

Charles and I in Saudi Arabia but we managed it.

In the spring, a friend of mine, Dave Gilbert and his wife Kris decided to climb with me and soon the three of us were clocking countless hours road marching around our small compound in Riyadh in a seemingly futile attempt to get our middle-aged bodies into shape.

Kilimanjaro stands at 19,340 feet high and had to be taken seriously. According to the World Wildlife Fund’s travel blog, about 25,000 people attempt to summit the mountain annually. Of these, about a third fails to make it to the top, mainly due to altitude sickness. Although confident in our physical ability to succeed, this sometimes deadly mountain affliction concerned us.

We live at sea level in Saudi Arabia with no mountains nearby to do high-altitude training or acclimatization, but we decided to take our chances.

The day of our flight finally arrived. We all wanted to summit the mountain, but the climb weighed a bit heavier on my shoulders because I was the team leader, I had asked people for donations and my name was on the line for the team’s success.

I had also promised some friends to make it to the summit with a special photograph of their child. My credibility was at stake and getting to the top was the only outcome I would accept.

Summit!

6 December 17, 2015

Scaling the wall

The Climb

I’ll not bore you with a daily account of our journey because the days were pretty repetitive, but the first day bears mentioning. We began our climb at Macheme Gate in the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. We signed in with our passports at the park warden’s office (they are intensely interested in knowing who is on the mountain), conducted final checks of our equipment, and had our personal gear weighed by our porters.

The porters (locals from the surrounding area), carried most of our personal gear, tents, food and water up the mountain on their backs. These guys ranged in age from teenagers to men in their 60s and are incredibly fit without an ounce of fat on their tall, lean bodies. As with most adventures, we set off with confidence, a lot of talking and non-stop joking. However, as time and distance passed on that first day, each of us retreated into our own thoughts, mentally preparing for the long, tough days ahead.

Days ran into one another and we lost track of time, measuring our progress by the number of days on the mountain and elevation gained. At lower elevations, the terrain was distinctly Alpine and reminded me of the time I had spent in the mountains of Germany. But as we climbed higher, the lush forest gave way to the barren high altitude desert where it seemed life did not exist. At these elevations, rapid Vol. 7 • No. 17

changes in the temperature and weather were common and forced us to constantly change our clothing to adjust, especially above the cloud line.

Besides the changes in terrain, I also began to experience the first effects of altitude. It began to get a bit more difficult to catch my breath and some nausea occurred. Even after several tough days of climbing burning thousands of calories, I lost my appetite and ate very little. At these higher elevations, we could never really warm up; we were constantly damp and sleep was fitful.

Although tired, we were doing well as we approached summit day. We arrived at Barafu, our base camp at 15,500 feet where we would launch our final push for the summit. It was a desolate place shrouded in fog. But like mountain weather anywhere, the fog would quickly lift and offer spectacular views of far-off Mount Meru, an active volcano about 45 miles away from Kilimanjaro. Minutes later, the fog and clouds would again envelope the mountain and the temperature would rapidly drop.

The day was spent preparing our gear, eating and resting. Before bed, we held a strategy session and decided to begin the final push at 5 a.m. We turned in for the night but I could not sleep because of the cold, difficulty breathing and mentally strategizing about that final push.

After a sleepless night, we set off in the pre-dawn darkness, unaware that the final leg of our journey to the summit would be the most challenging time on the mountain. The terrain was brutal and very steep and we climbed seemingly endless switchback trails for hours. Our guide, an experienced Maasai who had climbed the mountain numerous times, kept our pace glacially slow to allow our bodies to acclimatize to the extreme altitude. Our thighs and calves burned, we had developed nagging mountain coughs and struggled for oxygen, but we kept going.

Late in the morning, we arrived at Stella’s Point at 18,880 feet where we caught our breath and prepared for the final leg.

Psychologically, something odd occurred

Vol. 7 • No. 17

here. When we arrived and saw others beginning their descent off the mountain after successfully reaching the summit, we knew we would make it.

We set off on the final leg to Uhuru Point and traversed the most surreal terrain I have ever seen in my life. Giant ice fields and glaciers loomed to our left while a huge crater, remnants of an ancient volcano, scarred the earth around the summit. The terrain was primeval and we looked like ghosts floating through the fog as we trudged to the top.

It struck me that this is what a postapocalyptic world might look like.

Finally, after six long days, the faint outline of a sign marking Uhuru Point showed itself through the fog. At 11:45 a.m., we stepped foot on the summit and accomplished what we had set out to do: We had climbed Africa’s highest mountain.

There was big talk on the summit about what we would do when we got back to our hotel…lots of celebratory drinks, big dinner and so forth. The sad truth is that when we finally made it back to our hotel, I sat in a hot shower for 30 minutes, nibbled at dinner, iced down my knee and slept the sleep of the dead.

Although proud of our success, this climb was about the elephants and I take every opportunity to tell their story. The threats to them are numerous and complex, but the primary driver of poaching is an insatiable demand for ivory, primarily in Asia.

Slaughtered to Meet Ivory Demand

In a landmark study published in 2014 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, poachers killed approximately 100,000 elephants across Africa from 2010-2012. Annually, conservationists estimate about 25-35,000 elephants are killed to meet the demand of the global ivory market. The number of elephants remaining in Africa is uncertain, but conservationists estimate a likely figure of 500,000.

But there is good news. In September, the US and Chinese Presidents agreed to a near total ban on the commercial sale of ivory, a critically important step by the leaders of the two countries who are the leading consumers of ivory in the world. Just as important, public opinion campaigns are changing hearts and minds in ivory-consuming countries.

Conservation organizations have enlisted prominent Chinese celebrities to spread the

Day 1: Macheme Gate word about the elephant’s plight in China and it seems to be working. In a March 2015 survey by Wild Aid, the African Wildlife Foundation and Save the Elephants, 95 percent of Chinese respondents indicated governments should impose a ban on the ivory trade and that awareness of poaching had increased by 50 percent since 2012.

All over Africa, conservation organizations are testing innovative ways to mitigate human-elephant conflict. Save the Elephants, in collaboration with Oxford University and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is currently conducting an innovative study to reduce crop damage caused by elephants using their instinctive avoidance of African honeybees. So much is being done by so many dedicated people to ensure that elephants remain for future generations to enjoy. But there is much to be done and you can help.

You can help by not buying ivory or ivory products because when the buying stops, the killing will, too. Support elephant conservation organizations such as Save the Elephants and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. I would also recommend you plan a future holiday in Kenya and experience its welcoming and generous people, amazing wildlife and unparalleled natural beauty. I’ve wandered the globe for most of my adult life and my wife and I have lived abroad for so many years. But Africa is special and when I have been away for too long, it begins to pull me back.

To everyone who has supported our effort in some way, I offer you my sincerest thanks. With a little time and distance between me and the mountain, I’m already thinking about our next adventure in Africa to support the animals.

Until then, live big…

Brian December 17, 2015 7

Here Comes Cyber Claus!

I’m sure you all know about that IBM supercomputer named Watson. It’s supposed to have artificial intelligence, much like what the CIA collects, only factual. Watson made big news when it got on TV and beat the pants off the human Jeopardy! champions.

But is it really all that surprising for a computer to win on a quiz show? If you want to impress me, Watson, let’s see what you can do on Dancing With the Stars.

Watson made news again recently when IBM reported that it’s been figuring what gadgets are getting the most buzz this holiday season.

Essentially, by combing the Internet, Watson had been able to determine what everybody wants for Christmas.

Now that is an impressive feat, given that I’ve never been able to figure this out in the case of

my own wife.

I hope that Santa Claus is paying close attention to these technological developments, because they could well end up putting the jolly old man out of a job. Suppose that Watson develops a formula to figure out who’s been naughty and nice, which is something that could be easily done by searching only Facebook and Twitter. He could then team up with Jeff Bezos at Amazon and his delivery drones.

Together, they’d be able to get done in 20 minutes what takes Santa all night.

Christmas could soon be quite different than it is today.

You’d no longer need to take your kids to see Santa at the mall, since Watson would have everything already figured out. Instead of leaving milk and cookies by the chimney on Christmas Eve, you’d have

a charging cable for the drone.

And in the new green economy, the naughty kids would find solar cells in their stockings instead of coal.

The whole thing leaves some unsettling questions.

What would Santa do once IBM and Amazon take over his Christmas gig? What about Rudolph? Could he maybe land a position with the DOT as a traffic signal? Should the Easter Bunny also be looking over his shoulder? What about the Tooth Fairy?

As for Santa, I would hope he goes into politics. After all, who wouldn’t vote for Santa Claus? Sure, conservatives might have an issue with him at first, given his penchant for giving stuff away.

But I see it differently. He’d be a welcome alternative to those money-grubbing influence peddlers we now have in

Congress.

I could see him now dealing with those high-priced lobbyists in their Italian suits: “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass on that trip to Pebble Beach on your private jet. I have my own sleigh, and besides, we’re not much into golf on the North Pole. Now just sit here on Santa’s lap and tell me what you want for this legislative session. Have you all been good boys and girls there at the National Rhubarb Growers Association?”

And how about this for a campaign slogan: “Washington, You Better Watch Out! Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Mike McHugh is a syndicated columnist from Lake Charles. You can follow him on his blog at thedangyankee.com or on Twitter @dang_yankee.

If you love Tabby cats, this girl is not just a beauty; she is a sweetheart and a charmer! Leona is about 18 months old and is the perfect size for a young adult cat. A little shy at first, she warms up quickly and promises to be your best friend forever. Asking so little in return, she is sure to make Christmas special for her new forever person(s). Leona is an “inside only” cat.

To get more information or arrange to meet Leona, call or email (337) 478-7294; lapaw@bellsouth.net.

8 December 17, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 17

Natchitoches Spotlight We just returned home from our annual trip to Natchitoches where we celebrate our wedding anniversary and take in the Christmas Festival (it was their 89th!). The festival begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving and continues on until Twelfth Night, January 6. We have been attending for over 15 years and enjoy sharing our anniversary in the holiday magic that their community generates.

I’m sure someone knows the exact count of the almost endless array of lights the city puts up, but being called the “City of Lights” might suggest the enormity of the display.

Words and pictures cannot describe the vista presented; you need to see it for yourself to believe how much work must go into the presentation. Natchitoches is a little over a twohour trip from Lake Charles and is a very pleasant drive up through the scenic Kisatchie National Forest. You could day trip but the light show needs darkness and an overnight visit would make for a more enjoyable excursion.

The Louisiana School One of the seemingly best kept secrets in Louisiana is also in Natchitoches. The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts is located on the Northwestern State University Campus. LSMSA is the state magnet high school and has been recently recognized as the ninth best high school in the country. It’s for our best and brightest young scholars; it is no mean accomplishment to be accepted into the program. The students live on campus in their own residence dorms but are required to return home one weekend a month to keep the family ties strong. There is a maximum enrollment of 400 in grades 10-12. The tuition and fees for a semester are less than you could feed a teenager at home, which is a wonderful side benefit while getting a world class education.

Our family was privileged to have had a grandson graduate from the school, giving us a firsthand exposure to this rare jewel provided by the State of Louisiana. If you have a gifted child in the family, check out this opportunity that lets students advance their knowledge in an environment that fosters their abilities. They are among themselves.

Johnny Antoon passed from complications after a long battle with cancer. Beloved by many, he was a restaurateur, businessman, sportsman and sports fan and ran a self-labeled “Honky Tonk.” He was also an old friend of mine. Johnny helped more young people than we can count, and there is a scholarship in his name at Northwestern State University. He was known to create job tasks for students in need, just to give them some spending money. Loans to kids were not unheard of and from what I’ve heard, normally paid back with genuine gratitude.

When my grandson went to LSMSA, Johnny wrote down his cell and home number and told him, “Call me if you need anything,” not because it was my grandson but because he was Johnny.

The tributes to Johnny are literally in the hundreds on TV, newspapers and social media. A prominent Natchitoches businessman once told me that he didn’t know what Johnny Antoon would have to do to get himself arrested there. I have never heard an unkind word said from him or about him.

Rest in peace, my friend. The world is a better place from you having been in it.

Supermarket Roundup Having overly enjoyed Thanksgiving and not missing a culinary treat since, we have looked at a lower calorie plate for our shopping survey this time. We gathered these prices on December 11 at the following locations: Albertsons-Ryan Street, Market Basket-Nelson Road, Kroger-McNeese Street and Walmart-Nelson Road. These prices were those posted on the shelf where the product was made available for purchase.

Rotisserie cooked chicken, whole bird: Albertsons $6.99, Market Basket $7.39, Kroger $6.49, Walmart $4.98.

Iceberg lettuce, per head: Albertsons $1.99, Market Basket $1.69, Kroger $.99, Walmart $1.48.

Cauliflower, fresh, per head: Albertsons $3.99, Market Basket $1.99, Kroger (not on hand), Walmart $2.98.

Roma tomatoes, per pound: Albertsons $1.29, Market Basket $.89, Kroger $1.09, Walmart $.98.

Kraft Lite Classic Ranch Dressing, 16-ounce bottle: Albertsons $3.79, Market Basket $2.19, Kroger $2.49, Walmart $1.98.

A Tribute to Johnny Natchitoches recently lost a pillar of their community.

Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 9

Photos by Chris Romero

Fish, Fog and Fowl It started like any other trek to Jim Bel’s Hackberry Hunting & Fishing Lodge. I had three amis with me: my hearing specialist Kirt Loupe, my girlfriend’s father John LeMay and 43-year-companion afield, retired Maj. George Kuffel. We were headed for Jim Bel’s marvelous hunting lodge with seasonal visions of waterfowl dancing in our heads. The trip down was a journey through what is sadly no longer rice country, a water-too-high, fowl-scattering marsh and the Chevy Blazer AC blasting away at the late November heat wave. What had once been unfettered waterfowl country was experiencing a fowl-diminishing suburban and industrial boom until we passed through Hackberry. Taking a right at the Catholic church we left civilization’s

Duck Hunt 10 December 17, 2015

clutch behind and followed the oak-festooned chenier to the winding dirt and shell road that sliced through the marsh to Jimmy’s.

Once there, we stowed our gear in our rooms and gathered in the great room for the usual bull session. I was curious to see who would be around as Jim had said there would be only a couple of other hunters there. The who of that turned out to be part of my early birthday and Christmas presents.

To my delight, there was none other than my 20-year hunting companion Dr. Alan Lacoste seated on the couch. Just behind him, with his seemingly ever-present mischievous grin, was the long-time pal of Jim Bel and my friend, retired Sher-

iff ’s Deputy Sammy Monticello. I’d had a chance to chat with Sammy at the January 2015 Hackberry Ducks Unlimited Banquet and had seen Alan when I’d hunted teal with Santa at Jim’s in September. We tumbled down memory lane as we swapped amusing” back in the day” tales.

Then Jim arrived and said the magic words to Kirt and John, “Anyone want to fish?” They jumped up, quickly exited and grabbed rods and reels. We trod down the five-minute trek to the first flume. There are four that can be fished if one has the time. We didn’t. The water was pouring out the north side flume. John and Kirk quickly cast in the boiling current again and again and again but oddly, no fish.

Kirt crossed the road and tried the calm side of the flume and Bam! It was on. He began to expertly reel in small (rat red) fish one after another. John soon joined him and despite a faulty back lashing reel soon added his share of catch and release red fish.

Meanwhile. Kirt exhibited an expertise with his chartreuse Gulp lure that I simply had to envy. He put on a fisherman’s workshop on lure casting, fish hooking and working them carefully onto the bank.

John’s good and I’m no slouch after 40 years of guiding but I’m no Kirt Loupe.

Just note the pic with his behemoth red fish and truly fine flounder. The red fish must have fought for 15 minutes before Kirt could finally drag the exhausted fish to the shallow’s marsh grass. I hurriedly took the pic and Kirt quickly eased the monster red fish back into the water. The flounder Kirt played cautiously. He knew what he had, a fine-sized fighting filet delight. There was no returning that superb flounder to the wild. He made the trip all the way back to the lodge’s cleaning table, Vol. 7 • No. 17

got filleted and filled Kirt’s plastic bag.

With the sun setting and fading light we ambled back for the usual out-of-thisworld appetizers and meal.

As is the wont of hunters at a camp, we stayed up to watch the college football game.

Well, George, myself, Sammy and Alan did; the fishermen turned in at halftime.

Morning came and George and I were off with guide Tayt Little, while Kirt and John left with their guide Mike Chaline.

We parted ways at the landing, each headed off in their Go-Gatored outboard powered bateaus through the fog to their blind. The Fog Fairy has rarely been kind to me. Despite a couple of rice field goose hunts I have never liked hunting in the fog. You can’t see the birds and they can’t see the decoys or the pond for that matter. It is only after the fog lifts that the ducks, who have mostly waited it out, start their flights. The beauty of the azure sky, the colors of waterfowl plumage and the acrobatics of flight are all lost in

an oppressive gray fog.

We somehow managed to scratch out nine birds thanks to sheer luck and the expertise of our 15-year-old guide Tayt.

With me in my late ‘60s and George over 80, our reaction time in a shoot-fast-or-missthem-entirely fog was sadly wanting. Tayt’s wasn’t. I’d told him before the hunt not to be a guide that day and just be one of the hunters. He did both delightfully well. For us, every damn thing was either right in the decoys before we knew it, or we could only get in a fading-into-the-fog shot.

I’d brought nine tagged ducks from the previous day’s hunt with Greg Naquin, his son Brandon, and their Golden Retriever Candy. So I knew we had a combined limit of 18 in spite of the fractious Fog Fairy. Not to be outdone, Kirt and John and Mike Chaline had a great hunt despite the fog and bagged an 18-duck limit. Fish and fowl acquired and with memories worth cherishing, we left the magical land of Bel Lodge.

Shane, Roger, Jeanette & Glenn

Kirt with his catch Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 11

As Christmas approaches and we get ready to gather with family and friends, a lot of the focus is on food and gifts—and decorations. There’s something other than the Christmas tree that has deep historic roots that date back to the 1600s: Christmas ornaments. There are many collectors out there waiting to get their hands on a vintage or antique ornament.

Some are so rare that they are one of a kind.

According to tradition, the first tree was brought indoors in Strasburg, Germany, in 1605. It was decorated with paper roses and lighted candles. As time went on, families would try to outdo the others with their decorations. Eventually, the tradition spread beyond Germany.

12 December 17, 2015

In the 1800s, English households decorated their Christmas trees with common items found in nature, such as nuts, fruit and pinecones. German families in the same era began to bake gingerbread and other hard cookies into different shapes, while Americans strung popcorn or cranberries into strands to hang around the tree. Paper and lace ornaments crafted into unique shapes were also used in the United Kingdom.

In the mid 1800s, Germans began making ornaments for mass production. They were usually made of blown glass and shaped into fruit or nut designs. Later, hearts, stars, saints, children and animals became popular. The first machine-made

glass ornaments debuted just after World War 1 in Corning, New York. By the 1920s, more countries started to make ornaments. Japan came out with more colorful designs and the Czech Republic produced very fancy ornaments.

Pickle ornaments are a symbol of good luck. They were considered a special decoration by German families, where the fir tree was decorated on Christmas Eve. It was always the last ornament to be hung on the tree, with the parents hiding it in the green boughs among the other ornaments. When the children were allowed to view the tree, they would

begin gleefully searching for the pickle ornament.

Whoever found it first would receive a special present.

Unfortunately for the children, as they grew older, the pickles became smaller! This is one of my favorite ornaments.

Everyone remembers the commercials from Hallmark when they launched their Keepsake Christmas Ornament line in 1973. To this day, they are still going strong. I’m sure you have

Vol. 7 • No. 17

at least one on your tree. They’ve made a huge impact on the collectable market.

They are not only easily acquired, but the early ornaments sometimes fetch as much as $900 or more. You just never know what you may have up in the attic, so check it out!

The most collectable of the antique ornaments are German Dresden. Starting around 1880, some nine different companies were making them out of embossed cardboard.

The most elaborate of the Dresden ornaments were those built of two molded pieces that had been glued together. Colors ranged from silver and bronze to naturalistic hues.

Antique glass ornaments from Europe are not only highly desired by collectors but also extremely rare since they are so prone

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to damage from breakage and heat. They can fetch in excess of $600.

This is only a glimpse into the highly collectable market of Christmas ornaments. Start your collection today. An easy way to begin is with Hallmark. Talk to older family members. You never know, they may have an attic full of ornaments. Take time to look them up and start your own collection. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a rewarding New Year from the Bayou Picker!

December 17, 2015 13

Fill In The Blanks:

Telling My Story My last article of 2015 is all about the stories in my life throughout this past year. I learned that life is too short to remain unhappy.

I invited adventure and fun into my life, and I have to say that saying those words and inviting all of that into my year was successful. I bared my heart again and again while writing my articles and living my life. Each one helped me to learn and grow. They developed in some way that touched my heart. Not all the characters in my stories were likable, but they were interesting and each elicited an emotional response.

I cared.

What stories in 2015 did the same thing in your life? Which ones made you care? Which forced change in a good way?

This year, I was done judging myself and my choices based on other’s moral ideals. I want to be a good mom. I want to love with my whole heart. I want to be a good friend. I want to be madly in love with a man whom I can make really happy.

I want my children to know that they can always change their path if they need to. I want them to not be afraid the way I was for so many years.

Love is elusive; happy endings even more so. We generally get what we put up with.

14 December 17, 2015

Your future decisions belong only to you. The only people whom you need to consider besides yourself are your kids.

Take care of heart, home, and most of all, yourself. Life has a way of bringing us what we want and need. I tossed the rules out! Just live happily. The rest will come.

I can say that I am finally speaking my genuine truth. I love that I have finally found the courage and the strength within to share it, own it, honor it, cherish it--because truly?

That white picket fence is just a symbol. It wraps around our lives--all of our lives. If that fence isn’t TRUTH, then ain’t nobody happy in that house where they dwell. My picket fence wasn’t white at all.

I’m SO glad that I can finally pursue my “real” white picket fence to wrap around my life.

Lots of people are held captive behind theirs because it is not their truth. It feels fantastic breaking free and rebuilding that fence of mine.

Keep on knocking down those old walls and rebuild.

That fence will radiate all that you hold to be true.

When you were a kid, did you ever read a story that throws its characters into problem after problem, wall after wall, ending with a situation

that seems virtually impossible to escape? It’s a work of fine storytelling.

And that’s not all. Every character and twist and turn has been strategically placed.

The beginning of the story usually has clues to the ending, and when you re-read a good book a second time, you start to see all the little signs the storyteller left as you went along. Can you imagine the walls within your own heart that God has engineered in the world inside of your own story?

A single word can break your heart open. Picking just the right word is an art form.

Good storytellers surprise us with words. What words tell your story? What scene are you creating today? Storytellers give the reader their words, and pray that the scene that comes to life in your imagination is the one they intended.

How will your best friend react when you tell her something that might change her life?

How will your coworker react to your opinion? What will happen when you say what you want to say? When you are being brave and honest? When you stop holding your tongue?

When you open the cage that you have been hiding in?

Let your words speak truth about your life. Be BRAVE! Look into your own heart and what do you see? What words are written? What story do your pages tell? Our time is short.

Why complicate your time with words that just fill up the space.

I want my story to be full of sugar and sprinkled with a little spice here and there. I have seen a whole lot of joy and pain. I have seen my flaws. Just never ever lose you. Turn your page, speak your truth, and always never stop loving you.

To book a Soul Matters Session with Nicole Shuff Arabie, call (337) 540-6573. You can also go to her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DeclutteringYourSoul

Vol. 7 • No. 17

Sausage, Apple and Green Onion Stuffing You don’t have to be a chef to make this stuffing. This year, instead of using store-bought, try this easy-to-do holiday treat.

Stuffing, used to be called “farce,” from the Latin farcire via the French farcir. It is widely enjoyed in almost every country and is used in almost every type of animal and vegetable combination that is edible and doesn’t liquefy upon cooking. There are many variations upon variations on this traditional recipe. The English use the term “dressing” for what most will call “stuffing.” This is our spin on this fancy feast!

break up the sausage into small pieces. Remove the cooked sausage and place it in a large bowl. In the same pan (no need to clean it out) melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples and green onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the apples and green onions to the bowl with the sausage and add bread cubes and dried cranberries. Stir to combine.

Slowly add the chicken stock, stirring between additions to give the bread a chance to absorb the stock. Continue adding stock until the stuffing is moistened but not mushy. Most of the bread cubes should still appear as cubes. (2 1/2 cups of stock should be about right, but add a little less or a little more, as needed, to get the right consistency.) Place the stuffing in a baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes, until heated through and the top feels firm.

The stuffing can be fully prepared ahead of time, refrigerated and then baked before serving. Serves 8-10. Bon Appetit!

Ingredients • 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage • 2 tablespoons butter • 2 granny smith apples, peeled and diced • 1.5 cup green onion, finely chopped • 6 cups herb-seasoned bread cubes • 2.5 cups chicken stock (approximately) • 1/3 cup dried cranberries • 1 tablespoon Cajun Red Head Wild Game Seasoning or your favorite substitute

Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a pan, cook the sausage until fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes. As it cooks, use a spoon to

Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 15

McDONALD’S OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

Community Support Served Daily For countless families across Calcasieu Parish, the last 43 years have been a little brighter because of the efforts of a generous Southwest Louisiana family: the Gehrigs. Even if the name Doug Gehrig doesn’t ring a bell, you probably recognize McDonald’s—one of the most visible brands out there. What you may not know is just how deep its roots go in our community.

Doug’s day-to-day work goes beyond his title of Owner and Operator of McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana. Few are as steadfast in their commitment to serving Calcasieu Parish as Doug, his family and his team, and it’s likely that your family has felt the positive effects of their dedication to our area.

“In order for our business to thrive, the community around it must thrive as well,” said Doug.

“The health and vibrancy of our area’s charitable causes are a direct reflection on the health and vibrancy of Calcasieu Parish.”

A True Family Business It’s no surprise that McDonald’s of SWLA is so committed to improving the lives of area families; the business has been family-run since the first restaurant opened in Lake Charles on July 12, 1972.

Lake Charles, Louisiana, was a world away from the Gehrig family’s beginnings. Melvin Gehrig, Sr., and his wife, Eleanor, came to Southwest Louisiana from a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to open the first Lake Charles McDonald’s. Sulphur embraced the second area McDonald’s in 1974. In 1975, the Gehrigs were slated to open another restaurant. At this time, Doug was invited to Lake Charles to take part in the family business.

Doug graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and after working as an engineer for three years, he joined his father in Lake Charles in 1975. Doug acquired his first McDonald’s restaurant eight years later, and today he owns all 10 in Calcasieu Parish.

Doug Gehrig was presented with the esteemed 2012 Ronald McDonald Award, which is given by McDonald’s Corporation to the top one percent of McDonald’s owners nationwide.

16 December 17, 2015

It’s About the People The strong support that McDon-

ald’s of SWLA has for the community is only possible because of the support the community has for the business. Today, annual sales exceed $28 million with guest counts of over 4.5 million.

McDonald’s of SWLA consistently ranks in the top 50 privately owned businesses in the parish, and it has employed over 23,000 of our friends, family members and neighbors since 1972. Currently it employs over 600 people across Calcasieu Parish with a payroll of more than $6 million a year.

Under Doug’s leadership, Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s restaurants lead the region’s same-store sales growth year after year. His restaurants rank in the top 10 percent of national stores in customer feedback, and last month they were number one in the region.

Doug has also led the charge in remodeling his restaurants with new, modern looks for customers. The Cities Service Highway McDonald’s in Sulphur is now under remodel and will be completed in January, and the entire market will have the new look of McDonald’s, both exterior and interior. This program reflects an investment of over $8 million in our community as well as a drive to make its area restaurants, operations and people the best in the McDonald’s family.

“Our entire staff has to work together for the results we want,” said Doug. “We strive every day to give the best valued meals with the fastest and friendliest service anywhere.

Serving over 1,100 people every day in each restaurant is truly a challenge. And yes, sometimes we get an order wrong. We wish we were perfect, but we are not. But, it certainly is not from lack of caring or effort.

We continually try to improve, and we have some of the very best staff anywhere.”

Staffing is no easy challenge either. The Gehrig McDonald’s offer competitive pay, vacation pay, insurance options, 25 percent match to a Christmas savings club, a $20 co-pay for visits to Calcasieu emergency clinics for the employee and family as well as other benefits.

Doug oversees all 10 McDonald’s Vol. 7 • No. 17

restaurants in the parish with strong support from his Director of Operations and shareholder, Gerard Mack, known to everyone as “Mack.” The McDonald’s team carries a strong belief in using these restaurants to provide opportunities for his customers and team members to give back.

“My career with the Gehrig organization truly represents what we are about,” said Mack, who has been part of the McDonald’s of SWLA family since the start. In 1973, he began as a crew member, and his drive led him from restaurant manager in 1979 to supervisor in 1986 and finally to Director of Operations in 2001. Mack is a typical example of a McDonald’s of SWLA employee—90 percent of their top managers and supervisors started as crew.

“We offer opportunities to succeed, we believe in the value of people and we have a high standard of excellence,” said Mack. “It’s about the people—our team of employees and our guests.”

A Big Heart for Our Community With the support of Southwest Louisiana, Doug Gehrig has been able to aid the worthy causes that are close to the hearts of his team members. This last year, over 90 Calcasieu Parish nonprofit organizations, fundraisers and charitable causes have benefitted from over $100,000 in monetary donations as well as extensive in-kind support from McDonald’s of SWLA. Many don’t realize that the dollars behind these donations are all local; while McDonald’s of SWLA carries the corporate brand, community support comes directly from Doug and his team.

Doug has been recognized by McDonald’s for his contributions

over the years with many awards, including the most prestigious Ronald McDonald Award three years ago. It is an award given to the regional owner/operator who has shown dedication to both the community and to McDonald’s.

In 2014, McDonald’s of SWLA was honored with the Patron of the Year award at the Mayor’s Arts Awards, presented by the Arts Council of SWLA and Mayor Randy Roach of Lake Charles.

“The partnerships McDonald’s has with Southwest Louisiana events, nonprofits and local initiatives serve as leading examples of how a business can encourage positive change in a community,” said Mayor Roach.

Earlier this year, McDonald’s of SWLA partnered with Tyson Foods, Inc., to donate 960 cases of chicken to our local Abraham’s Tent. The food bank serves more than 250 meals daily in Southwest Louisiana, and it provides food for emergencies through the United Way, as well as clothing and basic medical services. With one in six individuals suffering from hunger in Louisiana, the donation was a natural fit for McDonald’s.

“The donation of Tyson chicken had great visibility, but it’s only one part of what McDonald’s of SWLA does for our organization,” said Pearl Cole, executive director of Abraham’s Tent. “They have been a great supporter of our mission throughout the years.”

Improving the lives of area youth is a priority of McDonald’s of SWLA. Years ago, McDonald’s of SWLA worked with the Calcasieu Soccer Club to grow it from infancy with a $5,000 annual donation, which grew to $10,000.

Today, the organization provides a recreation program that serves over 800 area youth each year,

With Tyson Foods, Inc., McDonald’s of SWLA donated 960 cases of chicken to Abraham’s Tent earlier this year.

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and McDonald’s of SWLA—along with Billy Navarre Chevrolet and Cadillac—now supports the Calcasieu Soccer Club with a $15,000 yearly donation, which helps increase its impact and reach in the community.

“We are extremely grateful to Doug Gehrig and McDonald’s of SWLA for the support they have provided us over the past seven years,” said Paul Burgess, league administrator with the soccer club.

“With their help, we have been able to hold free weekly coaching clinics aimed at improving skills for both goalThe Live @ the Lakefront concert series ies and field players, as is one of many quality of life initiatives well as provide the necsupported by McDonald’s of SWLA. essary soccer equipment to volunteer coaches and director. trainers to help them run organIt’s hard to find an organizaized practices.” tion or cause that McDonald’s The McDonald’s of SWLA of SWLA hasn’t touched. From family recognizes that a better McNeese Athletics and the quality of life comes in many American Red Cross to the Amforms—literacy programs and putee Softball Tournament and health services for families as well Calcasieu Parish Public Library, as better access to the arts.

McDonald’s has been a part of the McDonald’s of SWLA annually story of Southwest Louisiana for partners with the Arts Council decades. of SWLA and the City of Lake Doug Gehrig’s strong work Charles to help expand the imethic, belief in his community, pact of the Live @ the Lakefront and pride for his team drive the concert series, which is a series of operation’s ability to support local free outdoor music and art events nonprofits and charitable comon the Lakefront Promenade in munity events, and it doesn’t apdowntown Lake Charles. The pear to slow down anytime soon. event raises money for the local McDonald’s of Southwest arts community.

Louisiana (10 throughout Calca“Our partnership with Mcsieu Parish), owned and operated Donald’s has enriched the lives

by Doug Gehrig, are dedicated to of families in our community serving and assisting the Southwest through art and music at free Louisiana community. For more community events,” said Ashli information, call (337) 436-3368 or Waldrep, Arts Council executive visit www.mcdswla.com.

McDonald’s of SWLA annually supports the efforts of the Calcasieu Soccer Club to enrich the lives of area children.

December 17, 2015 17

The Lake Charles Symphony Plays Bingo

Beethoven, Buffet & Bubbly The 4th annual Champagne Bingo fundraiser, The Symphony Plays Bingo: Beethoven, Buffet and Bubbly, has become one of the Lake Charles Symphony’s most popular fundraisers. This fun event will be held Saturday, January 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lake Charles Country Club. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

Guests will enjoy champagne punch with a lunch consisting of finger sandwiches, crepes, and mini quiches, followed by an assortment of petit fours, all while listening to the sounds of the Symphony’s string trio. Eight games of bingo will follow, with Joseph Frazier

entertaining the guests while calling the games. Prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded to the winner of each of the games, including a special prize for the Blackout Game. Door prizes will be given away between each game to many of the lucky attendees.

Tickets are $50; reserved half-tables of four are $200; and a full-table of eight may be reserved for $400. Game Sponsorships are available for $500 per game.

In addition, Corporate Sponsorships are available for $1000. Corporate Sponsors will receive a special mention of your company in press releases and special

‘Book a Librarian’ Now Offered at Central Library

Patrons who need help with an electronic device, website, or app, but can’t find the time to take a class can now schedule an appointment with a librarian at Central Library to get one on one help! Patrons interested in the service are asked to stop by the Help Desk at Central Library, located at 301 W. Claude St. (corner of Ernest and W. Claude) in Lake Charles and fill out a form or call the library at 7217116 to set up an appointment.

The service is free of charge and open to all members of the public. Patrons are asked to please know all passwords for any accounts or services that they will be asking for help with. For more information about the program, call Central Library at 721-7116.

Twelfth Night: January 6!

Mardi Gras makes its flamboyant entrance with the Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza inside the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. There will be a lively, mini-parade featuring members of Krewe of Krewes under the direction of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins at 6:30 p.m.

The audience has a chance to win grand prizes, dance and hail the kings and queens of more than 60 krewes.

Guests in the Twelfth Night audience, who find “babies” in their pieces of King Cake, win lavish grand prizes from local merchants and businesses of Southwest Louisiana. Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the following locations: Joseph’s Electric, Gordon’s Drug Store, Moss Bluff Flower Shop, Hamilton House in Sulphur and Party Time Store on Lake Street.

Twelfth Night-t-twelve days after 18 December 17, 2015

Christmas--is the legendary beginning of the Mardi Gras season prior to Lent. Following tradition, Mardi Gras royalty of last year wave their symbolic good-byes to the thousands who turn out to see the grand fanfare of costumes and to greet the new season. Many of the fabulous costumes will take their places in the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu.

The Southwest Louisiana version of carnival is unique with its family-oriented mambo and Zydeco, glittering costumes, rollicking parades, spicy gumbo, Cajun cuisine, and genuine Louisiana music and dancing, attracting half a million guests each year.

The Lake Charles Twelfth Night is exceptional because it presents the extravagant costumes of more than 60 private krewes to the general public.

Twelfth Night is sponsored by Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes more than 20 family-friendly events.

signage at the event venue featuring your name and logo along with a table of eight and a bottle of premium sparkling wine or Champagne.

Proceeds from the Champagne Bingo will be used for the Symphony’s educational and outreach programs, in which free Symphony concert tickets are provided to students K-12, concentrating on the at-risk schools.

For tickets and general information, call (337) 433-1611 or visit www. lcsymphony.org--and be sure to like us on Facebook!

USS Orleck Naval Provides Haircuts for Veterans During Holiday Season Are you a veteran? Then make sure you take advantage of “Christmas Cuts for Veterans” aboard the USS ORLECK Naval Museum on Monday, December 21 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. “Christmas Cuts for Veterans” will focus on providing haircuts to local veterans at no charge. The 70-year old ORLECK, one of the most decorated U.S. Navy ships since WWII, does indeed have a barbershop with a barber chair!

The Museum sent out a call for stylists and barbers interested in giving back to their community by providing haircuts to veterans. The response has been truly heartwarming. One stylist will even travel from Lafayette to participate in the event. Stylists have also donated tools and other equipment to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Many have even volunteered to stay for the span of the event.

Stylists and barbers will provide basic cuts to all participants at no charge. While awaiting their haircut, veterans are encouraged to explore the ORLECK. Appointments are not necessary, but they are most certainly welcome. For appointments or additional information, please call the ORLECK at (337) 214-7447 or email at info@orleck.org. Any veteran that would like to receive a free cut but cannot make the trip to the museum should contact the ORLECK and they may be able to make more accommodating arrangements.

The goal in creating “Christmas Cuts” is to have a “Community Cuts” event with free or reduced price haircuts aboard the ORLECK on a recurring basis throughout the year for our veterans and area families alike. The success of “Community Cuts” depends on the generosity of volunteers from the community. With the overwhelming response to the first such event, it looks like “Community Cuts” may be a regular event aboard the ORLECK! Vol. 7 • No. 17

Exhibits at Historic City Hall “Christmas Greetings from the White House” will hang through January 9. The exhibition features Christmas cards sent by the Presidents and first families from Roosevelt through the Obama administration. Information panels detail Christmas traditions practiced at the White House as well as those practiced by the American public from the Civil War through modern day. In the third floor gallery, The 35th Annual Summer Arts Camp will feature a multimedia collection of art from students who participated in the annual art camp. Historic City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. (337) 491-9147 or www.cityoflakecharles.com.

Gingerbread House Display Through December 31 Stop by the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau to see the annual gingerbread house display at the Welcome Center throughout the month of December. You can also vote on the winners in both the

20 December 17, 2015

children and adult divisions, which will be announced on Dec. 29 at 10 a.m. at the Welcome Center for the People’s Choice Award! (337) 436-9588.

Central Library Indonesian Puppet Exhibit Through December 31 Central Library, located on the corner of Ernest and W. Claude Streets in Lake Charles, is inviting the public to visit an exhibit of original, hand-carved wooden rod puppets from Indonesia. The beautiful works of art will be on display from now until the end of the year. Known as wayang golek, these wooden doll puppets are most commonly associated with the Sundanese culture of West Java. (337) 721-7116.

Vintage Carriage Christmas Light Tours Through January 6 Make this a holiday season to remember! Ride along the beautifully decorated Shell Beach in Downtown Lake Charles in a Vintage Carriage Company horse-drawn carriage. These carriages are large and can seat up to 20

Vol. 7 • No. 17

Krewe of Golden Years Mardi Gras

DECEMBER &JANUARY

December 18 David Phelps Christmas Concert

January 12 Respect Life Banquet

December 20 The Aching Book Event

January 13 Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Job Fair

January 26 Harlem Globetrotters

January 16, 17 Don Rich Gun & Knife Show

January 27 Joint Legislative Committee Public Hearing

December 21 Toys for Tots January 6 12th Night

January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Festival

January 9 Police Recruiting Event

January 19 DEQ Public Meeting

January 10 La Parfait Jour Bridal Show

people--PERFECT for a big family get-together. So bring the hot cocoa and carols and let’s deck the halls. Email or call to make your reservation! (337) 794-5591, vintagecarriagecompany@yahoo.com.

Cajun Dance Lessons December 17 Free Cajun dance lessons are available at the Cajun French Music Association Building at 3481 E. Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. so don’t miss out! Learn the Two Step, Cajun Waltz, and more! Call (337) 562-9156 for more information.

January 20

January 21 Community Mardi Gras Dance

January 28 McNeese Football Banquet January 31 Lake Charles Mardi Gras Chicken Run

Cajun music, exhibits and a carnival—and some unique contests like trap setting, nutria and muskrat skinning, oyster shucking and skeet shooting. Times: Fri. noon - midnight; Sat. 9 a.m. – midnight. Admission: $15/day to enter fairgrounds, children 10 & under are free; outdoor events/ contest $25 per person (337) 250-6322.

Gun & Knife Show January 16-17 Hosted by Gator Gun and Knife of Louisiana, the Lake

The Santaland Diaries December 18-20 The Santaland Diaries is an outrageous holiday comedy that stars Crumpet, a rebel without a Clause who recounts the true-life tale of an out-of-work writers’ stint as a Macys’ Department Store elf. This adult theme show will add laughter and jolliness to your Christmas season. Performances are Saturday and Sunday at Lake Charles Little Theatre, 813 Enterprise Blvd. Call (337) 433-7988 for ticket information.

Blue Man Group December 22-23 Catch the wildly popular, award-winning Blue Man Group when they return to the Lutcher Theater in Orange, Texas Dec. 22-23. Tickets are on sale now at www.lutcher.org or by calling the Lutcher Theater Box Office at (409) 8865535.

Fur & Wildlife Festival January 8-9 The annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival takes place in Cameron across from the Cameron Parish School Board grounds. The festival features parades, pageants, dances, Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 21

Charles Gun & Knife Show will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center January 16-17. Adults $8; Children under 12 free. All Federal, State and local firearm ordinances and laws must be obeyed. (337) 527-9885.

Champagne Bingo Symphony Fundraiser January 23 The 4th annual Champagne Bingo fundraiser, “The Symphony Plays Bingo: Beethoven, Buffet and Bubbly,” has become one of the Lake Charles Symphony’s most popular fundraisers! This fun event will be held Sat., Jan. 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Lake Charles Country Club. Doors open at 10:30 am. For tickets and general information call (337) 433-1611 or visit www.lcsymphony.org. Be sure to like us on Facebook!

22 December 17, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 17

Saturday, December 19 Beaded Jingle Bell Necklace Make your own beaded jingle bell necklace to wear for the holidays!

Classes begin at 11:30 a.m. and noon. and are limited to 20 children, ages 4 and up.

Monday, December 21 Holiday Fun: 3-D Foam Gingerbread House Create a 3-D foam gingerbread house using stickers and foam cutouts.

Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon. and are limited to 20 children, ages 4 and up. There is a $1 additional workshop fee for non-members.

Story Time with Dan Ellender At 11:45 a.m., Executive Director Dan Ellender will read Twas the Night Before Christmas!

Movie Time At 1 p.m., we will have popcorn and watch Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, The Little Drummer Boy and Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol.

Tuesday, December 22 Holiday Fun: Gingerbread House Foam Frames Create gingerbread house picture from using stickers and foam cutouts.

Class begins at 11 a.m. and is limited to 20 children, ages 4 and up.

O’ Christmas Tree Decorate your foam Christmas tree with Santa’s Workshop stickers and glitter. Classes begin at noon and 12:30 p.m. and are limited to 14 children, ages 3 and up.

Movie Time At 12:30 p.m., we will have popcorn and watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns!

Wednesday, December 23 Christmas Eve Eve: Christmas Pasta Necklaces Come dressed in your favorite Christmas pajamas and make a red and green pasta necklace in the ArtSpace from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Story Time with Nana and Pappy Elf At 11 a.m., we will have one of Santa’s elves read the classic story of Rudolph! Kids will receive a candy cane after the story.

Movie Time At 12:30 p.m., we will have popcorn and watch The Santa Clause!

The Children’s Museum has activities and workshops planned for children of all ages!

The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. Call 337-433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org

Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 23

The Good Dinosaur (Disney / Pixar, 2015) Imagine that the dinosaurs never became extinct.

The meteor or whatever that wiped them out never happened. Wait. Before you start imagining dinosaurs talking on mobile phones and driving cars, back up. We’re not going that far in time, just up a few million years. The dinosaurs haven’t advanced beyond farming yet.

The Good Dinosaur is a wonderful animated story about a family of dinosaurs on their farm. They look like brontosauruses to me, very huge (my notes say they’re Apatosaurs). The three children, Libby, Buck and Arlo, are all different. Our story is mostly about Arlo, the smallest of the three dinosaurs, and his efforts to grow up.

All the children are encouraged by their parents to make their mark, proving they can help the family on the farm.

But Arlo, fearful little Arlo, is having problems with this.

He’s scared of just about everything. During one of his hikes with Dad, a storm comes up, flooding the river and taking Dad with it.

Now Arlo and his family have to do everything on their own, and one of Arlo’s chal24 December 17, 2015

lenges is to stop a “critter” from eating all their corn in the silo. He rises to the task and chases after the animal.

But soon he’s lost, far from the farm. How will he get back?

Ok, so there’s your plot, pretty simple, and you can be forgiven for thinking this is just another kids’ movie about growing up. Because The Good Dinosaur is a very good movie indeed.

Let’s start with the anima-

tion, which is a work of art in itself. I didn’t see the 3D version, and I’m glad, because I was able to appreciate the artistry that went into the landscapes that are the background of the story.

Let me just say that it rivals the real life cinematography of Disney’s Earth series of live action films, with aerial flyovers, torrential rains, huge flocks of birds, and endless vistas of mountain ranges.

Personally, I don’t think you’re going to find a more beautiful animated film anywhere.

Second, this movie is really geared for children, perhaps even four and five year olds, because the story is simple, even slow at first. But that’s ok, not a single child got up out of their seat during this 90-minute movie. The Good Dinosaur had them captivated and fascinated. This is chiefly due to the skill of the cast and nuances of expression in all the faces.

Although I’d like to say that this movie is for all ages, there are some quite scary parts in the middle that from my experience, would be hard for a small child to watch. Kids

younger than four, unless they’re very seasoned in the movies, may be too frightened to stay. Most of the Dinosaur Peril comes from wretched winged Pteranodons that evidently are starving. They threaten every living creature, including Arlo. Since all the dinosaurs talk in this movie, they’re pretty comical, but very menacing all the same.

Poor Arlo has no choice but to fend for his life, although he gets helped along the way.

In my favorite sequence, he befriends a family of cowboys herding buffalo. The family happens to be one of Tyrannosauruses (Tyrannosaurii?) and you’ve never seen herding like this. They even tell stories around the campfire.

I haven’t mentioned the critter Arlo is chasing, and won’t give away much except to say that it becomes fast friends with Arlo and its name is Spot. Their relationship is part of what makes this movie so special.

If you take your children to see any movie this December, I’d recommend The Good Dinosaur. Rated PG for animated peril. Enjoy!

Vol. 7 • No. 17

Lights Out: A Cyber-attack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath Candles are so romantic.

Their light softens everything in the room, making shadows that add a little mystery while the flame’s twinkle hints of promises. Nothing sets a mood better than a candle with just the right scent – unless it’s a candle that you need to survive, as you’ll see in the new book Lights Out by Ted Koppel.

Flip a switch, there’s illumination. Turn a faucet, there’s water. Click, and you’ve done your banking. We’ve become so used to the instantaneousness of these things that we barely give thought to having them.

Flip, turn, click, done.

And that, says Koppel, is a big problem.

What we don’t know or, more likely, don’t think much about is that our electrical grid and the nation’s Internet infrastructure are both unsecure and extremely vulnerable to attacks by a nation, group, or individual willing to risk what he says is basically an “act of war.”

We’re in this situation because profit has preference over preparedness, because we haven’t Vol. 7 • No. 17

been thoroughly warned of the facts, and because some government officials don’t believe cyber-attack is possible.

But it is, says Koppel; in fact, it’s already happened. He cites the Sony breach of a year ago, and a power loss in California in which a break-in occurred that affected a large portion of the state. The former example, he says, served as a warning of what hackers were capable of doing; the latter should be considered as the same.

It would be easy to think that the government, with its alphabet-soup of agencies, would step in, should half the country (including a major city) endure cyber-attack, but Koppel says that may not be the case. Generally speaking, we are woefully underprepared, he discovered through interviews with current and former officials, and his findings note a lot of buck-passing. Government officials did learn from disasters like Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 – just not enough.

The solution – and if there is one, it may only be temporary – is surprisingly easy, as Koppel

lays it out. Survival in a whennot-if scenario is possible, and it’s found by looking in Wyoming and Utah…

Oh, my. Next time there’s a power outage in my area, I might hyperventilate a little bit.

The outage might be accidental, but I’ll have Lights Out on my mind.

Yes, it’s the stuff that postApocalyptic novels are made of, but this is obviously no fictional tale. Author Ted Koppel, in fact, says “This book reflects the assessment of those in the military and intelligence communities and the academic, industrial, and civic authorities” who brought him to his conclusions. Though they might sometimes seem overwrought or even a bit Chicken Little-ish,

those conclusions are backed up with sobering facts, as well as pre-answers to naysayers.

My eyes were opened, my hair was raised, and I finished this make-you-think report wishing there could be classroom-like reading assignments for Congress and Senate. If you like lights, heat, and Internet, I think you’ll like Lights Out, too. For sure, no thriller can hold a candle to it.

“Lights Out: A Cyber-attack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath”

by Ted Koppel ©2015, Crown $26 / $34 Canada 280 pages December 17, 2015 25

Thursday, Dec. 17 Denny White 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Bernie Alan 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Tribute to the King 7:30 p.m. @ The Pavilion Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Perkins Road 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Tribute to the King 7:30 p.m. @ The Pavilion Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Safira 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Friday Nite Live Katelyn Johnson Band 8 p.m. @ Mary’s Lounge 4017 E Broad St. Broad St. LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Joe Harmon 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Perkins Road 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Safira 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

Friday, Dec. 18 Denny White 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Kory Fontenot 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC 26 December 17, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 17

Clay Parker and Jodi James 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. LC Troy Laz Band 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Dance Night 9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC Killawatts 9:30 @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Vol. 7 • No. 17

The Watchers 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St. LC DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, Dec. 19 Tribute to the King 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. @ The Pavilion Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Denny White 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Frayed Soul 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

LA Express 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Special Event Night 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

Brian Moore 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Safira 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini

Perkins Road 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Troy Laz Band 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

December 17, 2015 27

DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Sunday, Dec. 20 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill 710 Ryan St., LC Clint Faulk 4-8 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Flashback 5 p.m. @ Mary’s Lounge 4017 E Broad St. Broad St. LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Monday, Dec. 21 Stacy Bearden 5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Open Mic Night 9-midnight @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Matt & Katie 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Two for Tuesday on Everything!

9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Corey Lebert 8 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Marke Reeves Acoustic 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Tuesday, Dec. 22

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Rapture 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Mark Henry 5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Chester Daigle 5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Talent Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

By Braylin Jenkins In With the New As another year comes to a close, I find myself thinking more about the year to come. Let me begin by saying that this is more of a personal chat between us and therefore, I am deviating more than I normally do.

At the end of each year, I do my own evaluation and it normally begins by acknowledging the good and triumphant moments followed by my own critiques and acknowledgement of my shortcomings. From there, I set new goals for myself and a plan of action to make them become a real28 December 17, 2015

Jazz Night with Mickey Smith

ity with estimated time markers included.

For many, it seems as though a new year is just a continuum of what was already in progress, a “life goes on” type of mentality.

For others, a new year represents a new beginning, a clean slate or at the very least, the opportunity to mend, repair and move on.

If you live in Southwest Louisiana, then you know that with each passing month, the landscape of our area is changing. Whether your normal routes of travel are changing or construction is now a part of your daily commute, this is only the precursor for what is to come and it’s a good thing.

In the last “Lake City Beat” many of the local spots that are new to the Lake City were highlighted. The Facebook page “Developing Lake Charles” is a great place to go if you want to check out new businesses coming to the area. I still prefer the element of surprise the majority of the time, but a sneak peek definitely

does not hurt.

Speaking of sneak peeks, the Lake City should be excited about all of the new options coming our way. One of the largest additions has to be the new Altitude Trampoline Park set to locate at 3009 Gerstner Memorial Drive (formerly Highway 14). While there is a Facebook page, you may visit altitudetrampolinepark.com for an overview and altitudelakecharles. com to subscribe for special perks.

This Fort Worth-based company announced that the space will feature over 15,000 square feet of wall-towall, interconnected trampolines.

Activities include dodgeball courts, basketball dunking lanes, a kid zone and even a trapeze swing. Those into gymnastics will appreciate the tumble tracks and fans of parkour will enjoy the main court, which includes built-in obstacles. The complex is expected to open in early 2016.

I am grateful to come across many of the non-profit organizations here.

This time, I would like to highlight Jazz in the Arts. The organization Vol. 7 • No. 17

Thursday, Dec. 24 Amanda Walker 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Rapture 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Afterparty 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

is dedicated to providing community-based musical entertainment for the purpose of promoting and developing jazz music in the area. Chester Daigle II, his wife Patricia and their son Jairus go above and beyond to ensure that jazz lives on throughout our community. From the many special events and the many young people they educate, to the scholarship opportunities made available through their organization, the history and legacy of jazz continues thanks to their efforts and dedication. Visit www. jazzinthearts.com to find out more and how you can support them.

What do you want to see happen in 2016? My friend Alyssa filled me in on a group exercise that she and some awesome women in Vol. 7 • No. 17

Joe Harmon & the Harmonics 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Rapture 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

Afterparty 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Friday, Dec. 25

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Amanda Walker 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Classix Band 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

our community embarked on and she encouraged me to do the same. Write down your intentions for the new year. They are not necessarily goals because they are small tasks that can be done within the next few weeks. I challenge you to also create a list of intentions, and may I suggest it involve local.

Only you know what that includes, but try it on for size before we get to 2016.

And thanks to everyone in our community who has a positive outlook and supports local. We are growing in a very special way and the more we support our neighbors, the greater we all will be.

As 2015 wraps, I would like to say a special thank you to The Jambalaya News team and especially to the editor Lauren Abate for

Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

allowing me to be a part of their team. I would also like to say thank you to 88.3 KBYS and kbys. fm, which is another great platform that gives me an additional opportunity to share how great our community is while encouraging others to truly plug in and become a part of it.

Next year will officially mark three years since I began my Hey Bray J venture, and will also mark the third year of our MÁS (Music Artist Showcase) Series. Thank you to each performer who participated.

Look out Louisiana, more opportunities are on the horizon. To my fellow locals who are striving to do better each and every day, always remember to make it a great one, Southwest Louisiana!

Dance Night 9 p.m. – 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC Kory Fontenot 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Larry Tillery 9:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, Dec. 26 Amanda Walker 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Drivin’ Dixie 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Special Event Night 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC Classix Band 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Afterparty 9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

December 17, 2015 29

Rapture 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Reed Planchard

Encore 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Sunday, Dec. 27

Aaron Istre and Under The Influence

Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill 710 Ryan St., LC

Take Back the Holly and Mistletoe...

The one thing you can say about music when it comes to the holiday season is that there is no shortage of it. Most working musicians know that once they cross Thanksgiving, their schedules will get quite tight, but live or otherwise, you’re hard-pressed to go anywhere within 30 miles of civilization this time of year and not be surrounded by the “sounds of the season,” whichever form they choose.

Despite the litany of tried and true holiday classics, it’s almost assured that the first of such Yuletide tunes that always comes to my mind is the 1989 single “All I Want for Christmas is You,” by New Orleans’ own Vince Vance and The Valiants, whom I had the pleasure of first working with back in 2010. The voice you hear on the famed Christmas single that has charted over and over and is the most played Christmas song on Country radio is that of former Valiantette Lisa Layne.

The madman, raconteur and lovable ne’er do well is Vinne V, the man behind the song and the band that continues to light 30 December 17, 2015

3:30-7:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

5 p.m. @ Mary’s Lounge 4017 E Broad St., LC

up the stage with a veritable traveling circus of delightful and talented musicians.

Though his best known of the bunch, “All I Want For Christmas” is certainly not his only holiday-themed tune (this and other favorites such as “I Wanna Be a Christmas Tree” will find themselves cropping up year round at Vinnie’s shows), it is his best known and has made this year a special one for Vinnie and the crew as they mark 25 years of living and loving one of the country’s most beloved Christmas hits.

Not only is this a milestone for that tune, it’s also a chance to welcome some new holiday favorites-to-be , as Vince Vance and The Valiants celebrate the release of their latest album “My Christmas State of Mind” (featuring the vocals of longtime Valiantette Tiffany “Vince Anne” Rene) which they are touring as we speak.

Certainly not a “traditional” tune in many senses, it’s still become a part of my and many others’ holiday season.

Having been fortunate enough to work a dozen shows and cruise the Caribbean with Vince and his wonderful organization, I feel that I’ve been able to at least join in a bit of the journey that has been that music and those musicians over the

Lindsey Cardinale 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata 10 p.m.- 2a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

last few years. The fact that VV and crew continue to burn up the roads, make music and do their own share to help keep the holiday spirit alive is something to be celebrated as he continues to be a visible icon of Louisiana music. Please check out “MY Christmas State of Mind” available to preview at https://www.reverbnation. com/vincevanceandthevaliants and available to purchase on iTunes.

Thanks for the friendship and all the years of holiday fun. Much love to ya, Vinnie V! Santa Claus Has Got His Eyes All Over You Baby…

There are plenty of other “non-traditional” holiday songs we delight in every year. Be it the pure novelty of songs like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” the commercial cheekiness of Ray Stevens’ “Santa Claus is Watching You,” or the grit and slurry bite of The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s “Fairytale of New York,” there have been plenty of out-of-the-box Christmas tunes that have made their way into our hearts and minds. One that has become a favorite of mine makes its way here from all the way Down Under.

A comedic musician and songwriter raised in Perth, Western Australia, performer Tim Minchin remembers childVol. 7 • No. 17

Monday, Dec. 28 Bryan Trahan 5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Open Mic Night 9-midnight @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

Jazz Night with Clint Faulk 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

Tuesday, Dec. 29 Lindsey Cardinale 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Chip Radford 5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

hood Christmases a bit differently than we do, with the stark warm summers of the Southern hemisphere as opposed to our soggy and chilly Southwest Louisiana winters. Hence the name of his Christmas tune being “Drinking White Wine in the Sun.” While that lacks a bit of the familiar frosty, wintery images that we tend to associate with this time of year, it does bring something rather unique to the typical seasonal offerings.

Minchin is a well-established skeptic and atheist and has certainly made no attempts to hide it. However, he does not come off as either comical or as taking a stab at the holidy. Instead, it’s personal and heartfelt and even a tad critical of how some people misuse and cheapen what even he feels is a very special time of year. He opens this lovely song with the line “I … I really like Christmas. It’s sentimental, I know, but I just really like it”.

It seems that with all of the differing opinions and beliefs that cause so much of the strife in the world, it’s almost easier and more convenient to find points of contention amongst people of different beliefs than it is to find common ground amongst them. To not only find that unifying perspective but to hear it from, say, an atheist talking about Christmas is, in its own way, very encouraging.

Minchin paints the ChristVol. 7 • No. 17

Dancing 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

mas season as something that everyone can enjoy, no matter what they believe.

Even with his own beliefs, he still knows that he’ll “… be seeing my Dad, my brothers and sisters my Gran and my Mum.” He also points out that despite having all of the “usual objections to consumerism and the commercialization of an ancient religion,” he just really likes Christmas.

He even sings directly to his “jet-lagged infant daughter” saying…

Orphan Annie 8 p.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

“You’ll be handed round the room, like a puppy at a primary school/And you won’t understand but you’ll learn someday/ That these are the people that make you feel safe in this world/ My sweet blue-eyed girl/Darlin’, when Christmas comes.”

There’s room for all in this season and that’s important to embrace. If you hold the ideas of love, charity, family, community, giving and compassion close to your

Wednesday, Dec. 30 Chester Daigle 5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

heart, then you are a part of what Christmas means to me. Regardless of your race, your native country or your belief or non-belief in a God or gods, if you live and carry these principles in your heart, remember them and let them be seen this holiday season.

Be bigger than the commercialism or the divisiveness that are making unfortunate headlines every day. Be love, be light and be the reason someone smiles in this very special time of year.

Something’s Happening Here...

Well, this is giveaway issue #2 in my year-end vinyl contest here in JMLC and if you haven’t made your guess yet to win a vinyl copy of Jeff Lynne’s ELO’s Alone in the Universe (complete with digital download), you still have a chance to win! The contest will run through midnight, New Year’s Eve night and if you missed our last issue and don’t know what’s going on, here’s the drill!

If you have been following the ol’ JMLC, you may have noticed a bit of a pattern. Each section of my column is broken up by various titles that all are a song lyric of some persuasion. The only consistent one is this very section here. But where does “Something Is Happening Here” come from? Email your answers (or any other questions, comments or what have yous) to JMLC@justinmorrisentertainment. com between now and midnight New Year’s Eve night and one reader will pick up the first new E.L.O. album in nearly 15 years.

Multiple correct answers will result in a drawing amongst correct answers and should no one get it right, a drawing will be held amongst all entries. IN FACT, if you reference a friend to the contest and they include your email address as a reference, you’ll get a bonus entry for everyone you send this way!

So share our digital edition (at www.lakecharles.com) or email your friends to get in on it if they would like a shot at a proper piece of vinyl!

So that’s how you win! I will say that the question is a little tricky and that your first answer will MORE THAN LIKELY be wrong as the obvious answer is not the correct one. The answers I’ve received so far have only proven this to be true! So put your noodle to it, email me your guesses before the ball drops over Manhattan and you could WIN, courtesy of JMLC and The Jambalaya News!

So This is Christmas, and What Have You Done…

Well, hopefully spread a lil’ love and music and unity around for “the most wonderful time of the year.” Whatever your preference, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Yule, Happy Kwanzaa, happy whatever it is that makes you happy, and may that happiness shine on you and yours this holiday season.

Until next time… I’ll see YOU at the show!!!

December 17, 2015 31

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Jim Pharis 8 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

Orphan Annie 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Encore 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Talent Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

Kris Harper and Matt Moss 9:30 @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Thursday, Dec. 31 Kay Miller and Aaron Horne 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

New Year’s Celebration

New Year’s Eve with Boomerang 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Encore 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

LA Express 7 p.m.

Triggerproof 10 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

New Year’s Eve with Flashback

Friday, Jan. 1 THREE DOG NIGHT

8 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Party DJ Crush 8:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Cover charge $25. Bottle service packages available.

Must be 21 or older.

8:30 p.m. @ L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

New Year’s Eve Dance Redbone Cookin’, Joe Harmon $15 per person 9 p.m. @ Starks VFW 4402 Hwy 12 (337) 304 -7933 32 December 17, 2015

The Flamethrowers 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

8 p.m. at the Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster.com

Encore 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

The Flamethrowers 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Vol. 7 • No. 17

Vol. 7 • No. 17

December 17, 2015 33

BLUE DOG CAFÉ GRAND OPENING The opening of the Blue Dog Café’s new location on Ryan Street drew out fans and supporters alike as Mayor Randy Roach joined artist Georges Rodrigues’ wife Wendy and sons Andre and Jacques in cutting the ribbon on Lake Charles’ newest dining, art and music experience. Welcome to the Lake City!

Amy L’Hoste and Ashli Waldrep

Tommie Townsley with Sue and Paul Zimmerman

Sharon and Dale Bayard

Phil de Alburquerque and Shelly Johnson

Wendy Rodrigue and Andre Rodrigue

Scarlett and Andrea Carmen and Ruth, Megan and Molly McFatter

LCCB’S RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER

Mark and Kathy Dees with Mike Amos

Brittany, Avari and Arlee Broussard 34 December 17, 2015

Sara and Mary Katherine Meche

Teri and Dion Elledge

A venerable Lake Area holiday tradition returned as the Lake Charles Civic Ballet saw fans young and old flock to see dancers young and old tell the tale of Santa’s #1 reindeer. A big BRAVO to all the hardworking performers and technicians that made the tradition a special one once again!

Lindsey, Owen, Caroline, and Evelyn Cutler, Emilee Hoffpaiur and Ella Claire and Kym Hinton

Vol. 7 • No. 17

SEVEN SLOT SOCIETY JINGLE JEEP DRIVE The local Jeep Junkies were at it again as friends, families and donors braved the monsoon-like morning to do their part in helping local children have a happy holiday season. The 2nd annual Jingle Jeep Drive started downtown with a herd of Jeeps and a big trailer to make the official donation to Brennan’s Blessings, who will see to it that all the donations will find happy homes this season. Hats off, gang!

David and Beth Conrad with Paul Theriot

Van Miller, Jared Chandler and Rachel Lonthier

Carly and Sara McDaniel with Dianne Reichard

Dawn, Mikey and Mike Beer

Johnny, Nicholas and Kenneth DeVille and Cory Nelands

HOLIDAY ART MARKET Central School became bazaar of all things artsy for a full weekend of the 2015 Holiday Art Market. Vendors of all persuasions featured their wares as locals shopped, chatted and enjoyed the seasonal sounds provided by members of the Bulber Youth Orchestra who kept everyone’s spirits merry!

A very happy holiday to you all!

Lauren and Brice Perrin

Thomas and Arthur Odenheimer, Ted Romero, Taylor Seybert, Sarah Medwick and Reigner Kane Vol. 7 • No. 17

Rex Alexander and Tracy LeMieux

Brittany and Brian Pitre

Carolyn Woosley and Charla Blake December 17, 2015 35